How to get rid of a tick at home: simple tips on how to deal with a dangerous parasite
There are about 50 different types of ticks. Most of them harm a person in one way or another: they infect with dangerous viruses, cause allergies, destroy crops and food. Destroying ticks is often not easy - they have high viability and reproduce very actively.
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Who are ticks
What types of ticks live next to a person
Some ticks have adapted to life next to humans. They feed on the blood or biological material of humans and domestic animals, some species eat plant or animal remains, juices of domestic and garden plants.
Why are ticks dangerous to humans?
As mentioned above, some types of arachnids spread serious diseases and cause allergies.
disease
The most severe for humans are the following tick-borne infections:
The virus infects the gray matter of the brain and spinal cord. As a result, severe neurological symptoms develop: paralysis, epilepsy, cognitive decline. In some cases, death is possible. There is no specific treatment, the therapy is symptomatic. An effective method of preventing encephalitis is vaccination.
A disease in which important organs and systems are affected: the liver, spleen, cardiovascular, nervous and lymphatic systems. A characteristic sign of infection is the appearance of large red spots at the site of the bite, which do not decrease with time. The disease can occur in acute and chronic form. At the initial stages, it is quite easy to treat with antibiotics.
The infection attacks the white blood cells and reduces the body's resistance to other infections. Symptoms of anaplasmosis resemble SARS: fever, weakness, headache, which greatly complicates the diagnosis. As a rule, the disease is successfully treated and passes without complications.
Symptoms of an allergy
Allergies are caused by digestive enzymes (Der f1 and Der p1 proteins) and the P1 antigen contained in the feces of microscopic household mites. An allergy can manifest itself as follows:
- dry cough without cold;
- rhinitis;
- lacrimation and conjunctivitis.
In severe cases, it is possible to develop bronchial asthma and Quincke's edema.
Where do mites most often appear?
As mentioned above, parasites prefer to settle in places with high humidity and warm air. It is widely believed that household ticks appear only in unsanitary conditions. This is not so, they can settle even in a perfectly clean room.
Natural habitat of parasites
Not all ticks live in people's houses and apartments, but they can get there by accident. The natural environment for each type of parasite is different. For example, ixodid ticks live mainly in moderately dark, moist deciduous and mixed forests. However, under certain conditions, they can also settle in a summer cottage, a personal plot of a person.
How do ticks get into the apartment
Ticks get into the apartment on the body, clothes and shoes of a person, on animal hair. Some species, such as spider mites, can be blown in by the wind through an open window or door.
Reasons for the appearance of ticks in the suburban area
Parasites can appear in a summer cottage for the following reasons:
- lack of food for pests - in search of food they can travel considerable distances;
- location of the site in close proximity to the forest zone;
- movement from neighboring areas;
- purchase of a plot on which pest eggs were originally located;
- infestation on pet hair.
Tick control
Pest control is carried out in several stages in compliance with certain technology and safety precautions.
How to protect the site
Experts recommend treating the area twice a year. Processing time depends on the weather and climatic conditions of the region. The first pest control is carried out in April-June. During this period, the greatest activity of bloodsuckers is observed, which greatly facilitates the task of exterminating them.
The second time the territory is processed in August-September. This allows the population to decrease in the next season.
To get the desired result, all manipulations must be carried out correctly.
Before processing, tall grass should be mowed, construction and plant debris removed - these are the places that serve as shelter for bloodsuckers. Processing is carried out with special chemicals using a sprayer. Protect your respiratory system and wear gloves before starting work.
The most effective preparations for the destruction of insects on the site:
- tsifox;
- acaricide;
- force site;
- favorite;
- doctor Klaus.
All chemicals are highly toxic, so it is necessary to ensure the absence of people and animals on the site for at least 7 days.
What to do to secure your home
Ixodid ticks can also enter a home on a person or animal. A pest can exist in a person’s home for a long time, remaining unnoticed. To avoid this, it is recommended to carry out thorough examinations after walks until the moment you return home.
Personal protective equipment against ticks for people and pets
To protect pets, there are also special means: sprays, aerosols, drops on the withers. To enhance the effect, you can combine them with repellent collars.
Prevention of the appearance of ticks
Preventing a pest infestation is much easier than dealing with it. There are several ways to do this.
How to prevent the settlement of parasites on the site
To create an effective barrier on the way of ticks to the summer cottage, you must:
- regularly mow tall grass around the entire perimeter, thick tops near benches and bushes should also be removed;
- prevent the accumulation of layers of leaves and grass, do not store garbage on the site;
- make the main paths of such a width that the vegetation on its sides does not touch the legs of a person passing along it, it is advisable to cover it with gravel;
- to exclude the penetration of stray animals into the site, to exterminate rodents.
How to reduce the risk of house mites
Household mites may appear in the dwelling: bed and dust mites. To protect your home from unwanted guests, you must follow a number of preventive measures:
- change bed linen at least once a week, wash it at a temperature not lower than 60 degrees;
- in the summer, dry bedding in open sunlight;
- avoid large accumulation of dust, periodically treat soft surfaces with a steam generator or using a steamer.
Common mistakes when exterminating ticks in the country
The third serious mistake: exceeding the recommended dose of the chemical. This can cause poisoning of humans and animals, damage to fruit crops.
What to do if a tick is found on the body
The bite of the parasite is painless, so most often it is detected already when the tick has firmly stuck into the skin. To extract it, it is advisable to consult a doctor, but if it is impossible to get to a doctor, you need to remove it yourself as soon as possible.
How to remove a tick at home
It is necessary to prepare tweezers, a disinfectant and a container for the extracted parasite. The tick should not be touched with bare hands, so gloves must be worn before the procedure.
The pest must be grabbed as close to the skin as possible, then gently scroll it in any direction several times and carefully remove it.
Sharp movements can accidentally crush the tick or break it. The insect should be placed in a container and transferred to a special laboratory for analysis.
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